Advanced state of the art movie theater

• US 4,885,878 A
• Filed: 09/08/1987
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Wuu
• Original Assignee: George Wuu
• Inventors: Wuu, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Creighton
• Application Number:
  US07/093,889
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 52/6, 52/7, 52/8, 52/10, 52/80, 52/81, 358/88, 358/93, 358/104
• US Class Current: 52/6
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/126 Foldable, retractable or tiltable tribunes E04H3/123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes

Abstract

An advanced state of the art movie theater whose building is formed in the shape of a spherical geodesic dome. A platform within the dome is spaced upwardly a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the building. The inside wall surface of the building functions as a motion picture screen having an arc of approximately 300 degrees. Six hydraulically operated telescopic legs each have their top ends pivotally connected to the bottom surface of the platform and their bottom ends are pivotally connected to base plates on the support surface. A motion picture projector having a 300 degree fish-eye lens is oriented within the building to project an image on the motion picture screen. Between 50 to 100 seats are mounted on the platform and oriented toward the motion picture screen to accomodate persons viewing the motion picture. Harness-type seat belts would be attached to these seats. An electronic control system is used to tilt the platform upwardly and downwardly in any direction about its vertical axis in all 360 degrees. The electronic control system would be coordinated with the motion picture to be viewed to give the cinema viewer a vivid sensation of seeing and feeling the action in a story as if being there.

Claims

1. An advanced state of the art movie theater comprising:

a building having walls that form its perimeter, said walls having a bottom edge, said building having a predetermined inner width, said building having an outer configuration that resembles a sphere that is missing its bottom curvature due to a horizontal plane that cuts through the lower half of the sphere and forms its bottom edge, said building is a geodesic dome formed of substantially identical triangular panels;

a platform having a predetermined width that is less than the inner width of said building, said platform having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a concave curved motion picture screen surface upon which a motion picture can be projected, said curved surface encompassing an arc of greater than 180 degrees and less than 310 degrees, said curved motion picture screen surface is the inside wall surface of said building;

said platform being located within said building and having its bottom surface spaced upwardly a predetermined height above the bottom edges of the walls of said building;

support means connected to the bottom surface of said platform for tilting said platform upwardly and downwardly in any direction about its vertical axis about all 360 degrees comprising at least three sets of hydraulically telescopic legs having their top ends pivotally connected to brackets connected to the bottom surface of said platform and their bottom ends are pivotally connected to base plates positioned on the support surface, each of said sets having two telescopic legs having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom ends of each respective set of telescopic legs being pivotally mounted adjacent each other while the respective top ends are pivotally mounted to laterally spaced brackets connected to the bottom surface of said platform such that said telescopic legs have an angular slope to them;

said motion picture screen surface surrounding said platform;

a motion picture projector having a 300 degree fish-eye lens that is oriented to project an image on said motion picture screen;

electronic control means for activating said support means for tilting said platform comprising a controller, at least one joystick, an operator console main computer, and a slave computer; and

at least 10 seats mounted on said platform and oriented toward said motion picture screen to accomodate persons viewing a motion picture to be shown.

2. A movie theater as recited in claim 1 wherein said curved motion picture screen surface is the inside wall surface of said building.